Raids Target Paris Bomber's 'Entourage'

Nine people have been detained in a series of raids in the Brussels area following the Paris terror attacks.

Two of the arrests were directly linked to last Friday's attacks, a Belgian official said.

The other seven involve members of the "entourage" of Bilal Hadfi, one of the suicide bombers who detonated an explosives belt outside the Stade de France.

Hadfi has been dubbed the "baby-faced terrorist" following his attack on the stadium as France played Germany in a friendly match.

One of three suicide bombers on the stadium, the 20-year-old has been described as a difficult and cold child whose retreat into Islamic extremism intensified as his father died of cancer.

A French national, Hadfi has reportedly fought in Syria alongside IS and had been living in Belgium since.

Belgium's security services have been facing criticism following the co-ordinated attacks in the French capital, which killed 129 people.

At least two of the attackers were from Brussels.

Prosecutors have now confirmed that the suspected ringleader of the Paris attacks, Abdelhamid Abaaoud, was killed during a siege at a flat in the northern suburb of Saint Denis yesterday.

Officials say Hasna Aitboulahcen, the woman who detonated a suicide vest during the standoff, was Abaaoud's cousin.

The Brussels raids took place as Belgium's Prime Minister, Charles Michel, made a speech unveiling a £280m package of new anti-terror measures following the Paris attacks.

Under the plans, security will be boosted throughout the country, and extra resources will be channelled into eradicating messages of hate.

Unregistered places of worship will also be closed down, while new laws could see jihadists returning from Syria sent to jail.

Mr Michel also wants the constitution to be amended - in a bid to increase the length of time a terror suspect can be held in police custody without charge.

And, in an attempt to restrict communication between would-be attackers, his government plans to make it impossible to purchase pre-paid mobile phone cards anonymously.